Air-controlling member for oil burners



Nov. 1o, 1925. 1,561,215

L. S. CHADWICK AIR CONTHOLLING MEMBER FOR OIL BYURNERS ,Filed June 29, 1922 Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNl'lED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

LEE S. CI-IADWICK, OF SHAKER HEIGHTS, OI-IIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OEIS.

AIR-CONTROLLING MEMBER FOR OIL BURNERS.

Application ledJnne 29, 1922. Serial No. 571,671.

subject matter of this application are shown in my former applications Serial Nos. 528,- 818, 528,814, 528,833 (the last mentioned being a joint application of myself and one Marc Itesek) filed January 12, 1922, 541,898, filed March 8, 1922, 546,349, filed March 24, 1922, and in an application filed concurrently herewith,.and entitled Air distributor for liquid fuel burners.77

The general object of my present invention is to provide animproved air controlling member or flame spreader that rendersV the burner wherewith it is used more powerful and efficient.

Another object is to provide a novel construction for an air controlling member or flame spreader which insures the accuracy so essential to the successful functioning of devices of this character.

A further object is to provide a construetion facilitating assembly, expiditing manufacture, and increasing the strength and durability of the device.

These objects, with others hereinafter appearing, are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and defined in the claims annexed hereto.

In the drawing Fig. 1 represents Aa central vertical section through the upper p ortion of an oil burner and through my 1mproved air controlling member or flame spreader wherewith the burner is equipped; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section through the burner and air controlling member in a horizontal plane as indicated by the line 3-8 of Fig. 1, one side of the air controlling member being omitted to Devices similar to that constituting the better reveal the Spanner or supporting element therefor.

The oil burner is of the usual tubular form and includes inner and outer wick tubes 1 and 2, respectively, between which a cylindrical wick 8 is guided, the wick being adapted to be raised and lowered by wick raising' means (not shown). A spanner 5 which, in the present instance, consists of an annulus having a downwardly opening channel cross section, is situated within the upper end of the inner wick tube and is spaced a suitable distance downwardly from the top thereof. This Spanner constitutes a support for the air controlling member or -flame spreader. A frame 6 depends from the Spanner, and pivotally connected to the frame in the zone of the spanner are locking elements 7 which are restrained against undue pivotal movement by stops 8 that extend from the upper end of the frame .6 through openings 9. in the locking elements. The locking elements have keeper portions 7 a.

As I shall more fully explain hereinafter, and as disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid application No. 528,833, the locking elements cooperate with the air controlling member in such manner as to secure it to the Spanner; and the Spanner and frame G are adapted to be lifted, through the intervention of the air controlling member, by the wick, for the purpose of setting into operation certain wick stop mechanism carried by the frame and cooperating with the wick raising means, as fully disclosed in my hereinbefore mentioned application No. 528,813. The movement of the spanner and the latching thereto of the flame spreader, however, have nothing to do with my present invention and are included in the present disclosure only because the preferred embodiment of my invention is designed for a shoulder 14 from the outer edge of which depends a flange 15. The upper end of the lower section 12 is flared outwardly to form a horizontally disposed abutment 16, and then upwardly to form a flange 17 which fits within the former flange l'and below which the edge portion of the latter flange is crimped to clamp the parts firmly together with the edge of flange 17 against the shoulder 14.

The body of the air controlling member or flame spreader is designated 2O and it is made up of a cylindrical wall 21 that te minates at its upper end in a converging portion 22 and joins at its lower end, through a beaded depression 23, a gradually downwardly and inwardly inclined bottom 24 that terminates in a flange 25 which lits about the lower end of the section 12 of the lock 10 and is secured thereto, preferably by a series of indentations 26. lt will be noted that the body, comprised of the foregoing parts, is constructed of an integral piece of sheet metal and this insures the body being '35 absolutely true and round and provides the accuracy which is so necessary to the satisfactory operation of devices of this character. By being so constructed, there is little liability of the body ever becoming deformedV through ordinary use and handling.

8O indicates whatis usually referred to as the flange of the flame spreader and throughout its outer edge portion it is bulged upwardly as shown at 31 and beyond this bulged portion it extends abruptly downwardly andl terminates in. a substantially vertical lip 32 thatis disposed above the upper end of the wick. Itis found that, by forming the flange with its edge substantially vertical, as described the efliciency and power of the burner is considerably increased. and the character of the flame is improved. The flange has a central sleeve portion which is snugly engagedl about the enlarged lower` end of the upper section 1 of the lock 10, and bearsv upon the exterior of the shoulder let. The flange may be secured to the lock by any suitable means, as by a series of indentationsr 34.

Fitting down over the upperl end of the lock is the downwardly and. outwarwdly inclined top 36. The top maybe secured to the lock by aserics of` indentations 37, and spaced inwardly a suitable distance from its edge are lugsBS that. are struck from the material of the top and bear upon the bulged portion of the flange 3() so as to nuiintain an accurate spacing of these parts and provide between them a restricted air passage. ln the horizontal plane of this air passage, the upper section of the lock 10 is provided with segmental openings Ll0, the supporting bars which separate them being designated al-1.

The reduced upper end of a locking pin l5 is guided through a central aperture in the top wall 13 of the lock 10 and through an aligning aperture in a guide member 1G which depends from said top, the pin being equipped above the spreader with a knob 417. W hen the pin is depressed or allowed to drop of its own weight its tapered lower end 18 enters between the locking elements 7 and spreads them apart thereby to engage their keeper portions 7L with the abr'L yment 16 of the lock to latch the flame spreader to the Spanner 5. llhen it is desired to release the flame spreader and lift it from the burner, the knob of the pin is grasped and the spreader' lifted through the intervention of the pin, the initial upward movement of the Vpin in advance of the spreader causing its lower end to be withdrawn from between the locking elements, allowing them to swing inwardly out of engagement with the abutment 1G, the spreader moving with the pin upon contact of the enlarged end of the pin with the guide member 416.

Thetop wall 13 of the upper section of the lock 10 is provided with openings 50; the spreader top 3G, with openings 51; the bottom 24 of the body 20, with openings 52, while the cylindrical wall 21 of said body has a series of relatively small openings 53, and the converging portion 22 thereof, a series of similar openings 51.

As the parts are illustrated in Fig. 1, the wick 31s in high position. lt may be adjusted to any position between this and its lowermost burning position (which is somewhat below the upper ends of the wick tubes) without the position of the flame spreader being altered. In the type of burner shown, which is the one incorporating the automatic wick stop mechanism covered by my previously mentioned application No. 528,813, the flame spreader descends when the wick has passed its lowerH most burning position in a downwardly direction and finally comes to rest with its flange 30 engaging the top of the wick. This is of no consequence, however, in the present case, and the flame, spreader may be considered as supported. at the elevation shown while the wick occupies any adjusted position within its burning range. Assuming then that the burner is lighted with the parts in the position shown in Fig. l, or with the wick adjusted to a lower position, a flow of air is induced by the heat iipwardly through the burner, the major portion of the air rising through the lock 10 and escaping through the openings and through the restricted passageway between the bulged portion 331 o; the flange lll and the outer edge portion of the top At this point it may be explained that the air which is divided into substantially radial streams by the supporting bars 41-1 that separate the openings -lO is spread out horizontally as it continues through the aforesaid restricted passageway and consequently the voids produced by said bars are filled in and the air issues from beneath the top 36 in an unbroken and continuous sheet. This acket of air, so to speak, protects the parts of the spreader which it encloses from the intense heat of the flame. A part of the air, however, which passes through the openings 40 escapes through the openings 51 of the top 36, preventing that part passing upwardly about the edge of the top from flowing in over the top of the spreader. As a result, all the air rises in a substantially vertical column through a drum which surmounts the burner, the use of drums or fines with burners of this character being well understood by those acquainted with the art, wherefore its showing in this connection is deemed unnecessary. For a complete disclosure of such a burner, reference may be had to Letters Patent No. tls-8,828, issued April 2, 1907 to W R. Jeavons. A lin'iited amount of air also passes through the perforations 50 of' the top wall 13 of the lock and retains the knob 47 at a comparatively low temperature.

The remainder of the air rising through the burner passes upwardly through the openings 52 in the bottom Q/-l of the body 20 and through the slight annular passageway between the spanner 5 and the inner wick tube 1. The air rising through the openings 52 is deflected outwardly along the cylindrical wall of the body 2O by the horizontal portion 16 of the lower section of the lock 10 and the greater amount of this air flows over the upper edge of the body and out from beneath the flange 30 and supplies the flame with the oxygen required to promote combustion at the same time imparting proper shape to the flame. A limited amount of air is supplied to the space between the upper end of the body and the adjacent portion of the wick through the perforations 53 and 54 and through the passageway between the Spanner andthe inner' wick tube. lThe air passing through this space prevents vapors from descending thereinto and avoids the condensation of vapors within this region.

I previously explained how the air issuing through the lopenings 40 and divided into radial streams by the bars l1 is subsequently thinned out and reunited into a continuous horizontal sheet by the peripheral portions of the flange 30 and the top 36 between which it flows; and in this connection I may further explain that inasmuch as the lugs 38 which accurately space these elements apart are radially disposed and are comparatively thin they do not have the effect of breaking up this sheet of air into separate streams beyond this point and of causing streaks in the flame. While this method of handling the air is highly essential to the successful operation of the present air controlling member or spreader, it is developed to a higher degree in the type of device which constitutes the .subject matter of the application which I am filing concurrently herewith and accordingly claims on this feature are made in the other application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an air controlling member of the character set forth, the combination of a tubular central element having a circumferential enlargement spaced upwardly a suitable distance from its lower end, a flange surreunding said element above said enlargement, the flange having an annular horizontal portion which joins at its inner edge a sleeve that fits about and is secured to said enlargement and which joins at its outer edge an upwardly bulged portion that terminates at its outer edge in a substantially vertical depending lip, atop surrounding and secured to the central element above and in properly spaced relation to the flange, and a body surrounding the lower portion of said element and comprising a cylindrical wall spaced outwardly from the aforesaid enlargement and joining at its lower edge av bottom wall that. is secured to the lower end of the central element, said bottom wall being provided with air openings.

2. In an air controlling member of the character set forth, the combination of a central tubular member having a stepped circumferential enlargement spaced a suitable distance above its lower end, the stepped enlargement providing an upwardly facing shoulder at the base of a cylindrical portion, a flange surrounding said element and eX- tending outwardly therefrom and having at its inner edge a depending sleeve which fits about and is secured to the said cylindrical portion with its lower edge abutting said shoulder, a top applied to and surrounding the central element above and in properly spaced relation to the flange, and a body surrounding the lower portion of said central element and comprising a cylindrical wall terminating at its upper end a suitable distance below the flange and joining at its lower end a bottom wall that is secured to the lower end of the central element, said bottom wall having air openings.

3. In an oil burner, the combination of inner and outer wick tubes, a wick therebetween, and an air controlling member situated within the upper end of the inner wick tube, said member comprisinga central tubular element, a body surrounding the lower end of said element and consisting of a cylindrical wall in close proximity to the inner wick tube and a bottom extending inwardly llO i' rom said Wall and joining the lower end of the element, and a flange extending outwardly from the central element above the wick tubes, said flange havinga downwardly projecting substantially cylindrical edge portion in opposed relation to the top of the Wick.

4f. ln an oil burner, the combination of inner and outer wick tubes, a Wick therebetween, an annular support extending about the interior of the inner wick tube and spaced below its upper end, and an air controlling member situated Within the upper end of the inner Wick tube, said member comprisiiig a central tubular element, a onepiece body consisting of a cylindrical Wallin close proximity to the inner Wick tube and a pei-forato bottom extending inwardly from said vfall and joining the lower end of the central element, the body being formed with a depressed bead Where its cylindrical Wall joins said bottom, said bead resting upon the atoresaid support, and a flange extending outwardly from the central element above the Wick tubes.

5. ln an oil burner, the combination o inner und out-er wick tubes, a Wick therebetween, and an air controlling member situated Within the upper end of the inner wick tube, said member comprising a central tubular element having a closed top and open bottom, a body surrounding the lower end of said element and consisting of a cylindrical Wall in close proximity to the inner Wick tube and a bottom extending inwardly from said Wall and joining the lower end of said element, an annular flange having its inner edge formed to provide a sleeve which encircles and is attached to the central element, said flange projecting outwardly over the Wick, an annular top having its inner edge formed to provide a sleeve Which surrounds and is attached to the central element, said top being spaced above the flange, the central element having air openings betu'een the top and flange and extending a substantial distance above said top.

6. rin air distributor for liquid fuel burners oi? the character set forth comprising a tubular supporting member, two substantially horizontal flange-like elements surrounding the exterior of the supporting member, one above the other, the latter constituting the llame spreader lange,said elements converge ing outwardly to provide a restricted passageway, and a flame spreader body surrounding the supporting member belov.'v the aforesaid elements and in spaced relation to the lower one thereof, the tubular supporting member having a oircum'ferentially disposed series of openings that are separated by supporting parts and are located between the horizontal planes of the aforesaid flangelike elements.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto allix my signature.

Lun s. CHADWICK. 

